1<\/sup>Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him.<\/span> <\/p>\n 2<\/sup>For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill.<\/span> <\/p>\n 3<\/sup>But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves;<\/span> <\/p>\n 4<\/sup>Shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art.<\/span> <\/p>\n 5<\/sup>Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved.<\/span> <\/p>\n 6<\/sup>For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.<\/span> <\/p>\n 7<\/sup>For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.<\/span> <\/p>\n 8<\/sup>But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being corruptible, it was called god.<\/span> <\/p>\n 9<\/sup>For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.<\/span> <\/p>\n 10<\/sup>For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.<\/span> <\/p>\n 11<\/sup>Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.<\/span> <\/p>\n 12<\/sup>For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.<\/span> <\/p>\n 13<\/sup>For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.<\/span> <\/p>\n 14<\/sup>For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.<\/span> <\/p>\n 15<\/sup>For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.<\/span> <\/p>\n 16<\/sup>Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.<\/span> <\/p>\n 17<\/sup>Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.<\/span> <\/p>\n 18<\/sup>Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.<\/span> <\/p>\n 19<\/sup>For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.<\/span> <\/p>\n 20<\/sup>And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured.<\/span> <\/p>\n 21<\/sup>And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable name.<\/span> <\/p>\n 22<\/sup>Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.<\/span> <\/p>\n 23<\/sup>For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;<\/span> <\/p>\n 24<\/sup>They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.<\/span> <\/p>\n 25<\/sup>So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,<\/span> <\/p>\n 26<\/sup>Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.<\/span> <\/p>\n 27<\/sup>For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.<\/span> <\/p>\n 28<\/sup>For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.<\/span> <\/p>\n 29<\/sup>For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.<\/span> <\/p>\n 30<\/sup>Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.<\/span> <\/p>\n 31<\/sup>For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.<\/span> <\/p>\n